Plate closer



June 23, 1931. 'qc n em 1,811,643

PLATE CLOSER Filed Oct. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 MHW uuuuuunmlmmmW June 23, 1931.

A. A. NORIN PLATE CLOSER Filed 001;. so, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE= Anon A. NORI'N, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIoNon *ro'rIANN ENGINEERING won-Ks,"

' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOiS PLATE CLOSER.

' Application filed October 30, 1928. Serial No. 316,088.

joint that the pieces of material be heldin intimate'c-ontact during the riveting action. As the rivet end is upset to form the rivet head, the forceapplied serves to deform the rivet shank throughout'its length. Thisdeformation causes the rivet shank to fill up the rivet hole in the material. Should the pieces of material to be riveted together be spaced apart during theriveting action, this deformation will cause a ridge or collar to be formed on the rivet shank between the pieces of material; This formation is detrimental both to the strength and tightness ofthe j oint. In order to hold thepieces of material in contact, there have been devised various forms of plate closers or mechanisms for pressing together the material to be riveted. A common form of such plate closer consists in a collar or other member carried by the movable die and resiliently urged beyond the face of the movable die." As the movable die is brought toward the fixed die, the plate closer sleeve or other member engages the material surrounding oradjacent the rivet before the V movable die engages the rivet and commences iFs deformation. Asthe movable die upsets the rivet and moves toward the fixed die, the spring or other resilient means supporting theplate closer is compressed and this member does not move forward but is maintained in contact with the. work. Such forms of plate closers have the serious defect that with the riveterdies in the open position, the plate closer extends into thegap between. the dies and thus reduces the effective width of the gap. This reduction in width of the gap may have detrimental eii'ects upon the handling pliedto ariveter of a type widely used in the, automotive industry; and

term of plate and movement of the-work relative to the riveter. V v

The device of the constructiondescribed. herein consists of a plate closerwhich is .connected to the movable parts of the riveter in such manner thatit is drawn clear of the gap between the dies when the dies are in the open position. The movement inthis direction is positively controlled by the operation of the riveter and is simultaneous with the riveter stroke. The movement toward the work is yieldingly caused by a spring or similar means in the preferred iorm of construction. v

It is an object of" the present inventionto, provide anew and improved plate closer of the type adapted to be automatically operate'd by the riveter, V

It is a further object to provide a device of this character which will leave clear the entire riveter gap when the dies are in open position. 7

It is an additionalobject to provide aconstruction whichis simple in design and opera tion and which may be adapted to existing riveter constructions withoutimaterial alteration thereon. f

I Otherandfurther objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, two preferredforms of construction; n the drawings-' Figure 1 is aside elevation, partly in sec" tion, showing one form of plate'closer apw 0 Figure 2is "a similar view showing'another a closer applied to a riveter of the yoke type. v & V,

Referring" first to the form of construction shown in Figure 1, the riveter frame 11 carriest-he fixed die 12; The operating cylinder 1,3; is vpivotallys'ecured at 14 to the frame 11 and its piston rod 15 is pivotally connected atl6to the rock lever 17. This rock lever 17 is pivotally connected at 18 to M the upper portion of the frame 11 and is con-ly twice the speed of movement of the movnected by link 19 to the arm or plunger 20, which is slidably fitted in the upper portion of the frame 11 in registration with the fixed die 12. The plunger 20 carries the movable die 21 secured to its inner end.

The plate closer comprises the sleeve 22 fitted upon the movable die 21 and urged outwardly by the coil spring 23 which surrounds the inner portion of the die 21. The slides 24 are connected to the lug 25 carried by the plate closer, and pass through guides in the upper portion of the frame 11. These slides 24 carry the stop pins 26. The swinging levers 27 engage the pins 26 and are pivotally supported at 28 upon the riveter frame 11.

The links 29 are pivotally connected at 30,.

to the levers 27 and their other ends are pivotally connected at 31 to the armoperating links 19.

In the operation'of the form of device shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that the power is supplied to the movable die 21 through the cylinder 13. The piston 15 moves outof the cylinder and causes the rock lever 17 to rotate in the clockwise direction about its pivot 18. By means of link 19 the arm 20 and movable die 21 are moved toward the fixed die 12. During this movement, the links 29 cause the swinging levers 27 to rotate in a clockwise direction about their pivots. Since the links 29 are connected adjacent the middle point of the swinging levers 27, the movement of the outer ends of these levers which engage the pins 26 will be substantially double the movement of the pivot point 30. The movement of the pivot point 30 corresponds substantially to the movement of the link 19, and consequently to the movement of the movable die 21.

The spring 23 serves to maintain the pins 26 in contact with the swinging levers 27 so that the plate closer 22 extends beyond the end of the movable die 21 and moves forward at approximately double the rate of movement of the movable die. As soon as the plate closer 22 engages the material to be riveted the force of the spring 23 causes the plate closer to press the material together. It will be noted that the plate closer 22 is moved solely by the spring 23, as the swinging levers 27 are not positively connected to the slides 24, but merely contact with the pins 26 to hold the plate closer 22 in engagement with i the spring 23. Consequently, while the swinging levers 27 will continue to swing in the clockwise direction throughout the closing movement of theinovable die, the movement of the plate closer 22 will be stopped when the work is forced into intimate contact. The pins 26 will then cease to follow the outer ends of the swinging levers 27.

In the reverse movement of the movable die, the swinging levers 27 will be moved in the counterclockwise direction at substantialable die 21. This movement of the levers 27 will cause them to pick up the pins 26 and retract the plate closer 22 so as to bring it clear of the gap between the movable and fixed dies as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the form of construction shown in Figure 2, the yoke riveter has a frame or yoke 35 which includes the lower j aw 36 carrying the fixed die 37, and the upper 3' aw 38 through which passes the plunger 39 carrying the movable die 40. The yoke is shown supported by the bail 41. The upper portion of the yoke 35 carries the power cylinder 42 which, through .piston rod 43 and the links 44 and 45, serves to operate the plunger 39. The particular construction of the operating mechanism forms no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail.

The plate closer 46 is fitted'upon the movable die 40 and is urged downwardly by the spring 47 also carried by the movable die. A support member 48 is secured to the arm or plunger 39 by bolt 49 and moves with the plunger. The support member 48 is provided with a pair of arms 'eiiten'ding laterally of the plunger 39 and clear of the upper portion 38 of the riveter yoke, and each of these arms carries a pulley 50. A chain or cable 51 passes over each of the pulleys 50, each member 51 having one end secured at 52 to the plate closer 46. The other end of each chain or cable 51 is secured at- 53 to an eye bolt 54 which eye bolt extends through a stop lug 55 and carries on its lower end an adjusting nut 56. A takeup spring 57 engages the nut 56 and the other end of the spring is secured to a stud 58, an intermediate portion of the spring engaging a stud'59.

The form of construction shown in Figure 2 operates in general in the same manner as that shown in Figure 1. The spring 47 urges the plate closer 46 toward the fixed die, and the chain or cable 51 restrains this movement. Since the chain or cable passes over a pulley which is carried by and moves with the plunger 39 and has its otheren'd secured to a fixed portion of the riveter yoke, it will be apparent that as the plunger moves downwardly, the plate closer is permitted to move twice as fast or twice as great a distance as the plungerand movable die. Consequently the relation of the parts maybe so proportioned as to cause the plate closer to engage the work and press it together before the movable die engages theend of therivet.

lVhen the plate closer 46 engages the work and hence fails to move forward during the continued movement of the movable die 40, it will be apparent that slack will be caused in the chains or cables 51. The takeup springs 57 are provided for the purpose of taking up this slack. These springs are under strain in the normal or open position of the device, as shown in Figure 2. Their strength, however, is materially less than that or" the spring 47 so that in this position they do not cause the nut 56 to move away from the stop lugs 55. As soon, however, as the movement of the plate closer 4:6 ceases and slack occurs in the chain or cable, these springs pull the eye bolts 54 through the stop lugs 55 and take up the slack which occurs.

It will be apparent that either form of construction may be applied to existing forms of riveters of the type shown without material alteration in the riveter construction.

It will be apparent also that the plate closers tions of apparatus, and I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with ariveter, a movable die, means for moving the movable die, a plate closer carried by the riveter, and means to move the plate closer upon movement of the movable die simultaneously with the die, a greater distance than the movement of the movable die and at a different rate of movement than the die.

2. In combination with a riveter, a movabledie, means for moving the movable die, a plate closer associated with the movable die, and retracting means for the plate closer having members carried by the fixed and movable portion of the riveter to retract the plate closer through a greater distance of travel than the opening movement of the movable die, and at a greater speed of movement, simultaneously with the movement of said die.

3. In combination with a riveter, a movable die, means for moving the movable die, a plate closer associated with the movable die, means yieldably urging the plate closer toward the fixed die, and retracting means for the plate closer operated by the movement of the movable die and having members carried by the fixed and movable portion of the riveter to retract the plate closer through a greater distance of travel than the opening movement of the movable die, simultaneously with the movement of said die.

4. In combination with a riveter, a plate closer comprising a sleeve fitted upon the movable die, a spring carried by the movable die urging the sleeve beyond the end of the die, and means connecting the sleeve and riveter to hold the closer sleeve out of the gap between the fixed and movable dies when the-dies arein open position, and'to permit" the sleeve to move simultaneously 'with the die' a greater distance than the die.

i 5. In :combination' with a riveter, a plate closer comprising a sleeve fitted upon the movable die,-a spring carried by the movable die urging the sleeve beyond the end of the die,-;and means connecting the sleeve and riveter to hold the closer sleeve out of the'gap between the fixed and movable dies when the dies are in open position, said means being being connected to movable parts of the riveter to progressively release the restraint simultaneously with the movement of the movable die toward the work.

7. In combination with a riveter having a movable die, a plate closer slidably mounted upon the movable die, yielding means between the die and closer urging the closer toward the operating end of the die, means restraining movement of the plate closer by the yielding means, said restraining means being connected to movable parts of the riveter to progressively release the restraint simultaneously with the movement of the movable die toward the work, such release being so related to the movement of the movable die as to permit greater movement at the plate closer than that ofthe movable 8. In combination with a riveter having a movable die, a plate closer slidably mounted upon the movable die, yielding means between the die and closer urging the closer toward the operating end of the die, means restrainingmovement of the plate closer by the yielding means, said restraining means being connected to movable parts of the riveter'to progressively release the restraint simultaneously with the movement of the movable die toward the work, and to positivelywithdraw the plate closer against the yielding means as the movable die moves away from the work.

9. In combination with a riveter having a movable die, a plate closer slidably mounted upon the movable die, yielding means between the die and closer urging the closer toward the operating end of the die, means restraining movement of the plate closer by the yielding means, said restraining means being connected to movable parts of the riveter-to progressively release the restraint simultaneously with the movement of the movable die toward the work, andto positively withdraw the plate closer against the yielding means as the movable die moves away from the work, said positive withdrawal beginning after an initial movement of the movable die and continuing with such movement. 1

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 25th day of October, 1928.

- ADOLF A. NORIN. 

